2024 Limerick GAA Club Championship draws are held without presence of clubs

LIMERICK'S GAA clubs were not present on Tuesday night when the 2024 club championship draws for the coming season were held.

It is the first time in living memory that the draws took place without either club officials or media being present. In more recent times the draws have been live streamed by Limerick GAA themselves.

It had been announced at last week's monthly county board meeting that the draws would be held after a meeting of the Limerick GAA Competitions Control Committee (CCC).

It was confirmed by the county board this morning that the cost of streaming process was the reason that Limerick GAA opted not to follow on from the process of previous years. 

A close source to the county board outlined their disappointment to this Limerick Leader journalist. "It's a disgrace. This is the first time that this has happened, certainly in modern times. It is totally unfair on the clubs to be treated in this way."

The draws for the Senior Hurling, Senior Football, Premier Intermediate Hurling, Intermediate Football, Premier Junior A Football, Junior A Hurling and Junior A Football Championships all took place with members of the CCC all in attendance.

The Intermediate and Premier Junior A Hurling Championships draws are set to take place on Thursday evening.

Those taking part in the Limerick SHC were already known with Na Piarsaigh, Patrickswell, Doon, Kilmallock, Ahane and Mungret St Paul's taking part in Senior A.

Senior B sees Kildimo-Pallaskenry, Ballybrown, South Liberties, Adare and Monaleen joined by 2023 Premier IHC champions Dromin-Athlacca.

Garryspillane are competing in the Premier IHC in 2024 after being relegated from senior and will compete against Effin, Bruff, Na Piarsaigh, Glenroe, Newcastle West, Blackrock and newly promoted Granagh-Ballingarry.

The Junior A Hurling Championship now has two groups of six after being split in two. Group 1 contains Castletown-Ballyagran, Patrickswell, Rathkeale, Garryspillane, Ballybricken-Bohermore and Blackrock. Group 2 sees Killeedy, Claughaun, Templeglantine, Bruff, Ahane and Monaleen pitted against each other.

In the SFC, champions Newcastle West have been drawn in Group 2 alongside Fr Casey's, Oola, Galtee Gaels, Ballysteen and Kildimo-Pallaskenry.

Beaten finalists from last year, Adare, are in Group 1 with Monaleen, Na Piarsaigh, Ballylanders, St Kieran's and 2023 IFC winners Mungret St Paul's.

The IFC draw also took place with Feenagh-Kilmeedy, Cappagh, Kilteely-Dromkeen, Athea, Mungret St Paul's and Granagh-Ballingarry in Group 1. Croom, Fr Casey's, Monagea, Cappamore, Mountcollins and Ballybrown are in Group 2.

In the Junior A Football Championship, Bruff, Camogue Rovers, Ahane, Castletown-Ballyagran, Ballylanders and Banogue were drawn in Group 1, while Hospital-Herbertstown, Ballybricken-Bohermore, Fedamore, Monaleen, St Patrick's and Adare in Group 2.